Organ



Dea 4, 192s.

SQ MICHNIEVITCH ORGAN Filod Juni 21, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet A TTORNE Y.

Dec. 4, 1928.

S. MICHNIEVITCH ORGAN Filled June 2l, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

Dec. 4, 192& 1,693,933

s. MlcHNlEvn-cH one Filed quae 21, 192e 5 sheets-*sheet 3 Byww A TTORNEY.

Dec. 4', 1928.

s. MlcHNlEvrrcH oRGAN Filed June 21. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 4, 192s. 1,693,933

'5. MICHNIEVITCH ORGAN med' June 21. 1926 5 sheets-sheet 5 6 ao /oa /v/ y F/ .6 1,26 j

.Bx/(ii.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES `S'JANISIZIAV MICHNIEVITCH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ORGAN.

Application led June 21, 1926. Serial No. 117,589.

lt is the object of this invention to provide an organ in 'which all nuances of artistic music may be obtained by means of lingering,

through independent regulation of the expression and vibration of the different notes by varying the pressure ot' the lingers on the respective keys, and it is a further object of the invention to arrange the organ so that when a plurality of stops are employed, the pressure on the different keys of a single keyboard will independently vary the expression and vibration of the corresponding notes in all ot' the stops which are drawn, in order that all shades of expression may be obtained, and the instrument thus adapted to solos,accom paniments or orchestras simply by fingering the one key-board and operating a register for each of the one or more auxiliary stops, without the necessity for a plurality of keyboards and a large number of draw-stops even `with which it is impossible to obtain like results from the ordinary organ.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide registers for the auxiliary stops positioned so that they will be readily accessible from any point along the key-board without removing the fingers Yfrom the keys; and to arrange i'or increasingly resisting the finger pressure as the respective keys are depressed so that the sense of feeling will aid the player in obtaining the desired nuances et expression and vibration.

The invention is particularly adaptable to reed organs in which the notes are sounded by the vibration of tongues; and it is a 'further object ot' the invention to provide separate air channels and auxiliary resonators for the respective vibrators in order to provide clear n and true tones from piano to forte, the auX- iliary or qualifying resonators being of such material and shape as to be readily accommodated to their corresponding vibrators without necessitating their being ot such excessive czfipacity as to make it impractical 'for their A:.eception in a usual small parlor organ.

The vibrators are preferably operated by suction, with strikers starting the vibration; and it is a still further object of the invention to operate the strikers slightly in advance of the opening of thesuction means, and to arrange the strikers so as to aetuate all of the eorresponiiing vibrators in the different stops. with relatively greater vibration imparted to the vibrators of the stops which are of standard pitch.

It is a still further object of the invention wto provide the organ with a prolongment of novel construction whereby notes may be sustained at the same strength after the fingers have quit the corresponding keys.

Further objects of the invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, showing the right half of the organ.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the left half of the organ with the front! of the organ easing broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section through the operating front rail of the organ and through the mechanism of one of the organ registers.

Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of one of the wind box valves, showing the valve starting to open. y The main ease of the organ maybe of usual construction and includes the base 1, side walls 2 and front and back 3 and 4. A hinged cover 5` is provided for the top of the case and may be folded back to expose the keyboard which is just above and in back of the front rail 6. The front of the case may be provided with openings 7 adapted for escape of sound and preferably covered with cloth or othersuitable mesh material; and the front also has an opening 8 for the foot pedals 9 which are hinged to the base 1 and are adapted to operate the bellowswhich create the suction. i

The sound producing mechanism is mounted in a. frame received in the organ ease; and this frame comprises ya top 10, rear wall 11, and ends 13. which rest rupon the base 1. rlhe rear wall 11 is spaced anappreciable distance from the back of the organ ease and a closed casing 12 which forms the wind boxis mounted on the back 'of wall 11.

The bellows which are adapted to create the necessary suction for operating the organ, are mounted on the back 4 in rear of the easing 12, and are preferably four in number with'the two middle bellows 15 connected to the respective foot pedals 9, and the two outer which are thus formed; and the channels are accommodated to their respective vibrators by gradually reducing their length and height from the lower notes to the higher notes of a stop. The resonators for the respective vibrators communicate with ports 53 in ythe channels and the resonators are of proper graduated size and the ports 53 are positioned at points along the channels adapted to produce true and clear tones.

The resonators for the high notes of the organ are preferably pipes 54 of graduated length, and in practice are preferably of celluloid to provide the proper vibration, and in order to avoid increase in the size of the graduated pipes beyond the point where they can be conveniently received in the organ case, box resonators 55 of material such as Wood,

are preferably substituted for the pipes at the middle notes of the organ.

The series of graduated box resonators may be formed as integral casings divided by partitions 56 into individual'resonators for the respective vibrators; and the series of resonators for the different stops may be nested in the organ case as shown in Fis. 2 and 3.

To avoid box resonators o impractical increasing size, they are preferably replaced at the low notes ofthe organ by graduated yieldable resonators 57, with the resonators of the octave lower stop upended where necessary to avoid the path of travel of lpedals 9 as shown y at 57. The yieldable resonators are prefer'- ably formed in pairs on wooden frames, which include central wooden partitions 58, and are covered with resilient material such as rubber. The yieldable resonators preferably taper to reduced width` at their ends which are opposite the ports 53, in order to provide space for expansion and contraction of their resilient sides, andthe ports 53 of next adjacent channels 50 communicate with the individual resonators at the respective sides of central partitions 58.

The vibrators 47 are of standard construction comprising spring tongues mounted in slotted frames 59 which are received over the `open forward ends of channels 50; and the succeeding vibrators of a stop are adapted to produce the successive notes of the musical scale with the vibrators of the respective stops an octave above and below the vibrators of the standard stops which are rrvertically alined therewith.

Strikers impart initial vibration to tongues 47; and one set of strikers 61 control the vibrators of the two standard stops, while a seeond set of strikers k62 is provided for the vibrators of the two auxiliary stops. Each` set of strikers is between the vibrat-ors of the two stops which it controls; and the striker units are pivoted midway of their length and have heads 63 at their respect-ive ends for engaging tongues of each of the two stops with which they cooperate.

strikers 61 are normally retracted by gravity,

and are swung against theirtongues 47 by levers 64 when forked operating ends 65 of the levers are depressed. Shoulders 66 provide for release of strikers 61 by thelevers 64 immediately after initial depression of the forks so that the strikers are returned to normal y retracted position. The strikers are then held aga-inst further movement by locking levers 67 which are moved into and retained in operative position until forks 65 are subsequently released.

The strikers 62 are normally held in engagement with their tonguesr by springs 68, and are swung against the tension of their springs to release the tongues by means of levers 69 which impinge against ythe striker units when their forked operating ends 70 are depressed.

The key-board of the organ is arranged so that 'depression of a key operates the correspending vibrator in each of the four organ stops, the parts being so arranged that vari-- ation in pressure or touch upon the respective keys independently varies the degree of vibration ofthe corresponding vibrators. This result is obtained by varying the opening of valves 39 in accordance with the touch upon the corresponding keys, thereby varying the suction imparted to the corresponding vibrators and consequently varying their vibration. For this purpose the keys of the organ control vertical operating rods 72 which arel guided through top 10 and engage the forked ends of the operating levers of corresponding strikers 61 and 62, and also control vertical operating rods 73 which are slidable in casing` 12 and cooperate with corresponding valves 39 for the different organ stops. l

The key-board is mounted in a frame 7 5 which is pivoted at 76 above the top 1() and rests upon the hase 77 of rail 6. The frame 75 includes a transverse rail 78 on which the key bars 79 are adapted to rock; and the front ends of the key bars form a usual key-board with the white and black keys 80 and 81 alternating in accordance with usual practice. T he rear ends of the key bars may be counterweighted as shown at 82 and means are provided for exerting increasingyielding pressure against 'depression of the keys. As an instance ot this arrangement the upper surfaces ,of the rear ends of the keybars are beveled as shown at 83 and spring fingers 84 are fixed to the key bars at said beveled ends, with stops 85 on the frame 75 spaced above the springs 50 bar 124 may return all of the rods 122 to inarms 87 to retain the latter in elevated position, the fingers being pivoted to supporting rods 122 which are in turn pivoted in bracketsv ed to a knee pedal 127 at the front of the organ. The knee pedal is positioned with relation to the right foot pedal 9 so that it may be engaged by the right knee, and for this purpose is shown connected to a support 130 by pivotal connection 131, with an arm 127a of the pedal projecting beyond its pivotal mounting and extending into a recess 132 in the front rail 6 so that swinging the pedal by the rknees will swing the arm 127a transversely in recess The flexible connection 126 is connected to the swinging end of arm 127il and extends to the right through ka bore 132 in front rail 6 asbest shown in Fig. 6. The right-hand end of bore 132 opens rearwardly through the front rail 6 and a pulley .133 in the. bore forms a guide for flexible` connection 126 so that the latter may project rearwardly from the front rail and extend across the organ just beyond the right-hand end of the key board; The frame 75 is suitably apertured for passage of the flexible connection as shown at 135, and the .rear end of the flexible connect-ion is secured to the right-hand end of hinged bar124 as shown at 134 in Fig 1. When the knee pedal is swung to a position abutting against a stop 128 so as to retract bar 124 by movement of the flexible connection 126, fingers 121 are free to slide in under the rear ends of any of the i'ocker arms which are elevated by depression of the corresponding keys. The fingers 121 will thus hold the rocker arms against return to normal position and thus retain the rods 73 in elevated position for prolonging the opening of valves 39 until knee pedal 127 is again released so that hinged operative position.

I claim:

1. An organ comprising sound producing means providing a plurality of stops, a keyboard, a wind box, separate air channels coinniunicating with the respective sound producing means, valves between the wind box and the respective air channels, means for dependently controlling the valves of the -sound producing means for the same note in the dili'erent stops by the respective keys, and means for independently varying the opening of the valves controlled by the respective keys in accordance with the touch upon the corresponding keys. A

2. An organ comprising a plurality of stops, a key-board having keys adapted to dependently control the same note in the different stops, and registers for controlling certain entire stops extending the length of the key-board for equally convenient access thereto from any point along the key-board.

3. An organ including a key-board and having a plurality of stops, and a register for controlling a stop extending along the keyboard equi-distantly spaced from a plurality of the keys.

4. An organ comprising sound producing means providing a plurality of stops, a key-board, a wind box, separate air channels communicating with the respective sound prodi'icing means, valves between the wind box and the lrespective air channelsmeans for dependently `controlling the valves of the sound producing means for the same note jin the different stops by the respective keys,

means for independently varying the yopening of the valves controlled by the respective keys in accordance withtlie touch upon the corresponding keys, and registers for opening or closing all of' the valves of certain stops to the wind-box.

5. An organ comprising sound producing means providingaplurality of stops, a keyboard, a wind box, separate air channels communicating with the respective sound producing means, valves between the wind box and the respective-airv channels, means for dependently 'controlling the valves of the sound producing means for the same note in thedifferent stops by the respective keys, means for independently varying the opening of the valves controlled by the respective keys in accordancewitli the touch upon the corresponding keys, and registers for opening or closing all of the valves of' certain stops to the wind box, saidl registers extending along the key-board adjacent theA keys for convenient access thereto by the fingers at any point on the key-board.

6. An organ comprising sound producing means, a key-board, a wind box, separate air channels communicating with the respective sound producing means, valves between the wind box and the respective air channels,

means for controlling the valves bythe respective keys, means for' independently varying the opening of the valves in accordance with they touch upon the corresponding keys,

and means for exerting increasing yielding n pressure against depression of the respective keys by the fingers'.

7. A reed organ comprising vibrator tongues, separate air channels communicat- .ing with the respective tongues, a wind box, andvalvular controls between the wind box and the respective ,air channels separated the length of said channels from the vibrator tongues.

S. A reed organ comprising vib ator tongues, separate air channels communicating with the respective tongues and graduated in size to accommoc ate themselves to the respective tongues So as to produce true tones, a vvind box, and valvularI controls between the ivind box and the respective air channels separated the length of said channels troni the vibrator tongues.

9. A reed organ comprising viln'ator tongues, separate resonators communieL ing vvith the respective tongues, a Wind liox. antVV valvular controls between the Wind box and the respective vibrators.

10. An organ comprisinl sound producing-.j vib ators, separate resonators communicating` with the respective vibrators and `arealuated in size to accommodate themselves to the ie spective vibrators so as to produce true tones, the resonators t'or the vibrators which pro duce the low notes being o't relatively yieldabie material to eliminate the necessity tor resonators otl excessive size, a wind box, and valvular controls between the ivind box a id the respective vibrators.

11. An organ comprising sound producing vibrators, separate resonators communicating With t-he respective vibrators and graduated in size to accommodate themselves to the respective vibrators so as to produce true tones, the resonators t'or the vibrators which produce the high notes being ot' but slightly yieldable material and the resonators for the vibrators ivhich produce the low notes being of relatively yieldable material so that the resonators may be of a size for practical accommodation in the organ.

12. An organ comprising sound producing;r vibrators, a key-board, strikers for the respective vibrators, a ivind box, valvular controls between the Wind box and the respective 'ib Iators, means for actuating` the strikers and the valvular controls by the respective keys, and means for arising` ope ation ot the strikers slightly in advance et the opening; et' the corresponding .*alvular conrols.

13. An organ comprising sound producing?y vib 'ators providing' a plurality oli oi an stops, a key-board, strike 's for the respective vibrator", means it'or depcndently actuatnnzj the strikers 'tor the vibrators vvhich produce the same note in the different stops by the respective keys, said strikers being arranged to impart greater vibration to the 'il ratorsl Which produce notes otl standard pitch than to the corresponding' vibrators t'or the auxiliary organ stops, valvular controls tor the respective vibrators, and means for actuatingy the alvular controls by the respective keys.

14. An organ comprisingr sound producing,r means, aA key-board, a ivind box, valves bet\ve ln the Wind box and the respective soun-:l producing means controlled by the respective keys, means for openingl the y'alves in accordance vfith the touch upon the correspondinnl keys, and means for retainingr the valves in the same open position to ivhich they have lo. An or an comprising sound producing; int-ansl provi'. a plurallti.' ol stops. a lievli l box. 'alves betu'een t.

in, a. ivm 1. ,i

and tl ui it respective sound n; eins Ater controlling the valves iv cori ""3 eine' keys ot' the key-brand. means for iiulepeinlentlv varying the opening' ot said correspondin` valves iii accorda ice `ivith the touch upon their respective keys. and renisierf ter opening or closing all ot the 'valves oit certi in stops to the Wind b 1\',saidre;'isters extending alone the l-:ev-board equi-distantlv spaced trom a pinrality of the k( i 1T. A. reed organ comprising vibrator tongues. aratc z. ngular air channels oit appreciable length connuunit-ating` with the reA spective tongues, a vrind boxfand valvular controls betvveen the Wind box and the respective air channels. L

1S. A rzed organ comprisingr viln'ator tongues, a key-lioard, separate air channels communicating uith the respective tongues. a ivind box, valves between the @vind box and the resi ective air channels. means Afor controlln g' the respective vatvcs bv the respective keys, and means 'for inilepcinlentlv varving the opening oi the respective valves in accordant-fi` with the touch upon the correspending; keys. y

it). .in orgbin comprising sound producing vibrators. and separate. 1 i i v l producii l mato g Vennui .atinn vfith the respective vibrators and Agradirated in size to arr-conuuodate themselves to the respective vibrators so :is to produce Vtrue tones. the resonators the vibrators which produce the high notes beh ot but sligghtl)v vieldrble inatci'iai so that aid vibran tors ma),v be otE a vtor practi al accommodation in the organ.

2t). A n organ comprising` sound producing' vibi'atm's, a key-board, strikers tor the respective vibrators, a vrind box. 'alvular controls between the ivind box and the respect ive vibrators. means 'tor act-Luanne; the re.` strikers and opening the respe. ive valvular controls by correspiaidingrespectif-'i kers. and means tor varjinn' the o oliv ot the ieil spective strikers and the opening' ot the rctors adapted to impart greater vibration to the vibrators 'which produce notes of standard pitch than to the corresponding vibratois for the auxiliary organ stops.

ln an organ, a sound producing means, a` key, a wind box, a valve adapted to open the wind box to the sound produciiigiueans, a

rod adapted to variably open the valve inaccordance with the degree of i'novcment ot the rod, and an operating connection for moving the rod in accordance with the degree ot depression oi the key. f

23. In an organ comprising a 4plurality oi stops,` sound producing means for the same note in different stops, a key, wind boxes 'lor the differentstops, valves between the re spcctive wind boxes and the sound prot'lucing means for the same note in the different stops,

a rod adapted to variably open said valves ot' the sound producing means for the same note in the diii'erent stops in accordance with the degree of movein-int of the rod, and an operating connection for moving` the rod in accordance with the ydegree ot' depression of the key. i

24. In an organ comprising a plurality ot stops, a key-board, and a register for controlling a stop coi'nprising an elongated bar extending the length of the key-board in front of the latter and adapted for operative movement by manual engagement of any .portion of the bar.

In an organ comprising a plurality of stops, sound producingr means for the same note in different stops, a key, a main wind box, secondary wind boxes 'for the respective stops, registers for opening or closing certain of the secondary wind boxes to the main wind box, 'valves between the respective secondary wind boxes and the sound producing means for the same note in the different stops, arod adapted to variably open said valves of the sound producing means for the same note in the different stops in accordance with the de gree of inoven'ient of the rod, and an operating connection for moving the rod in accordance with the degree of depression of the key.

E26. An organ comprising sound producing means, a ke"-board, a Wind box, vvalves between the wind box and the respective sound producing means, means lfor controlling the respective valves by the respective keys, means ior independently varying the open# ing of the respective valves in accordance with the touch upon the corresponding keys, and a spring engaging the. keys so as to exert increasing yieldingv pressure against depression thereof.

27 In an organ, a vibrator tongue, a striker' for said tongue, a key, a wind box, a

valve adapted to open the wind box to the vibrator' tongue, a rod adapted to open the valve, a lost motion connection between the lrod and valve, a rod adapted to actuate the striker, and an operating connection between the key and said rods.

Q8. A reed organ comprising vibrator tongues, separate` air channels communicating with the respective tongues, a wind box, valvular controls lbetween the wind box Aand the respective air channels separated the length ot said channels rtrom the vibrator tongues, and separate resonators communieating with the 'respect-ive air channels adjacent the corresponding vibrator tongues.

29; An organ comprising sound producing'vibrators, a. keyl'ioard.` strikers for the respective vibrators, a wind box, valvular controls between the wind box and the respective vibrators, means for actuating the strikers andthe valvular controls by the respective keys, means for causing operation of the strikers slightly in advance of the opening of the corresponding valvular controls, and means i'orvarying opening of the respective valvular controlsin accordance with the pressure upon the corresponding keys.

30. A reed organ comprising vibrator tongues, a key-board, separate air channels communicating with the respective tongues and graduated in size to accommodate themselves to the respective tongues so as to produce t-rue tones, a wind box, valves between the wind box and the respective air channels, means for independently varying the opening of tlierespective valves in accordance with the touch upon the `corresponding keys.

3l. A reed organ comprising vibrator tongues, a key-board, Separate air channels communicating with t-he respective tongues, a wind box, valves between the wind box and the respective air channels, separate resonators communicating with the respective air channels adjacent the corresponding tongues, means for controlling the respective valves by the respective keys, and means for independently varying the opening of the respective valves in accordance with the touch upon the corresponding keys. l

32. A reed organ comprising vibrator tongues, a key-board, separate angular air channels of appreciable length communicating with the respective tongues, a wind box, valves between the wind box and the respective air channels, means for controlling the respective valves by the respective keys, and means for independent-ly varying the opening of the respective valves in accordance with the touch upon the corresponding keys.

33. A reed. organ comprising valvular tongues, separate resonators communicating with the respective tongues, a key-board, a wind box, valves between the wind box and the respective tongues, means for controlling the respective valves by the respective keys,

and means for independently varyingthe openin` of the respective valves in aeeortlanee With the touch upon the Corresponding keys.

3l. An organ comprising' sound producingl vibrators, a key-board, strikers for the respective vibrators7 a wind box, valvular eentroie` betiveen the vvintl box anal the respective vibrators, means` Yfor actuating the respective strikers and openingthe respective valvular controls by Corresponding respective lieve, and means for varying opening ot' the re speet-ive valvular ront-rolf,v in aeeorclanee with the presrsure upon the eorresponlingy keys.

35. Ain organ comprising sound proflue.- ingl vibrato s providing a. pluralitj,v ot organ Stops, .strikers for the respective vibrators` adapted to impart `greater vibration to the vibrators which protluee notes of standard piteli than to the eorreponcling vibrators tor the auxiliaryv organ stops, a` Wind box, valvular controls betvfeen the 1vinti box and the re- Speetive vibrators, means for actuating the re- Speetive strikers and opening)r the res )eetive valvular controls by corresponding respeetive ketvs, and means tor vaivine opening` ot the respective valvular controls in aeein'tlanee with the pressure upon the corresponding keys.

3G. In an organ, a sound protlueingl means, a key, a Winti box7 an air channel eonnnunieatin y with the sound producing means, a valve azlaptetl to open thewind box to the air ebannelA a rod adapted lto variably open the salve` in accordance with the degree ot movement ot the roth and an operating connection 'for movin@` the rotl in aeeortlanre with the degree ot depression ot the key.

23T. A 'organ eoinprieing sountl proilue ing ine-ans, a key-board, eeparate air channels eon'nnunieating with the reapeetive Sound producing' means. a vvinil boxl` valves bet-Ween the. ivintl box aml the respeetive. air channels;` means :tor controlling' the reepeeiive va lvel bv the respective 'keys means tor intlepeintleutlvv var ving the opening of the respeetive valvea in aeeortlanee with the touch upon the correx@pendingy key?, and a spring engaging the keys so as to exert inereasingr vieltling preesure againstI depression thereof.

In testimony whereof' he has affixed his Signature to this specification.

STANISIAV MICHNlEVlTCl-I. 

